Photo: ODTThe first Test between the Black Caps and England starting March 22 will be played under lights - following Eden Park's successful application for resource consent from the Auckland Council. Tentatively scheduled to be the first Day-Night Test played in New Zealand, the fixture today received the blessing of an independent panel of commissioners, and now looms as one of the highlights of the Black Caps' 2017-18 home summer. Worldwide, only five Day-Night Tests have so far been played, three of which were staged in Australia, including the inaugural Day-Night Test between the Black Caps and Australia at Adelaide in November 2015. Mr Crummy said Test cricket was facing increasingly challenging times in terms of relevance and context, and this was being borne out by crowd numbers, viewership ratings and broadcast right values. "This a very important outcome for Test cricket lovers in New Zealand - simply because it allows us the opportunity to play the game at a time when more people can engage with it.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 28, 2017 06:45 UTC